Keeper lock for a slide fastener

ABSTRACT

A concentric three-part, key-operated keeper lock for a slide fastener and including an outer lock barrel having a radial anvil portion which underlies the pull tab of the slide fastener when the fastener is in its closed position, an intermediate telescopically movable rotatable handle having a radial keeper flange which is adapted to overlie the pull tab when the barrel and handle are telescoped together, and an inner tumbler-type cylinder having a locking bolt which maintains the barrel and handle telescoped. In the telescoped position of the handle and barrel, interlocking shoulders prevent rotation of the handle. In the unlocked condition of the cylinder, the handle may be moved axially to free the interlocking shoulders, after which the handle may be rotated throughout a 90* arc in order to withdraw the keeper flange from its tab-overlying position. The keeper lock is self-locking in that when it is in its unlocked condition it may be manipulated to a locked condition without the use of the proper key.

I United States Patent [111 3,580,016

[72] Inventor Willis m1. Kerr 3,070,986 1/1963 Hart 70/68 [21] A 1 No g g g Primary Examinerlan A. Calvert Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy [22] filed 1970 Anome Norman H Gerlach 4s Patented May 25,1971 Y [73] Assignee Chicago Lock Co.

chlcagoam- ABSTRACT: A concentric three-part, key-operated keeper [54] KEEPER LOCK FOR A SLIDE FASTENER 10 Claims 14 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 70/68,

24/205.1 1L, 70/390, 70/421 [51] Int. Cl E05b 67/38, E05b 1 1/06, A44b 19/00 [50] Field of Search 70/68, 448, 390, 451, 421; 24/205.11 (L); 287/53 (SS) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,950,414 3/ 1934 Rifkin 70/68 l,9 50,4l5 3/1934 Rifkin 70/68 lock for a slide fastener and including an outer lock barrel having a radial anvil portion which underlies the pull tab of the slide fastener when the fastener. is in its closed position, an intermediate telescopically movable rotatable handle having a radial keeper flange which is adapted to overlie the pull tab when the barrel and handle are telescoped together, and an inner tumbler-type cylinder having a locking bolt which maintains the barrel and handle telescoped. In the telescoped position of the handle and barrel, interlocking shoulders prevent rotation of the handle. In the unlocked condition of the cylinder, the handle may be moved axially to free the interlocking shoulders, after which the handle may be rotated throughout a 90 arc in order to withdraw the keeper flange from its tab-overlying position. The keeper lock is self-locking in that when it is in its unlocked condition it may be manipulated to a locked condition without the use of the proper key.

Patented May 25, 1971 3,580,016

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 av ws/v TOR WILL/AM J. KERR BMW Ally.

2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Affy.

56 INVENTOR WILL/AM .1. KERR l KEEPER LOCK FOR A SLIDE FASTENER The present invention relates generally to a keeper lock for a slide fastener and has particular reference to a keeper lock of the general type which is illustrated and described in Pat. No. 3,070,986, granted on Jan. I, 1963 and entitled Lock-Type Keeper Mechanism for a Slide Fastener, the principal object of the invention being to provide a keeper lock which is an improvement upon and has certain advantages over that of said patent.

Briefly, the keeper lock of US. Pat. No. 3,070,986 is designed for use in connection with the slide fastener of a flexible money bag and consists of two principal pans, namely, a lock barrel and a concentric lock cylinder. The lock barrel carries an anvil portion which underlies the pull tab of the slide fastener when the latter is in its closed position, while the lock cylinder carries a keeper flange which is adapted to overlie the pull tab and cooperate with the anvil portion in contining the pull tab therebetween and thus rendering the latter inaccessible for fastener opening purposes. A series of plate tumblers in associated relation with the lock cylinder constitutes the sole means for preventing turning of the lock cylinder and consequent swinging of the keeper flange to an out-of-the-way position wherein the pull tab of the, slide fastener is exposed. Such a keeper lock possesses the obvious disadvantage that when torque is applied to the keeper flange tending to swing it to its out-of-the-way position while the lock cylinder is in its locked condition, such torque is transmitted directly to the plate tumblers so that by the use of an appreciable degree of force, it is possible for a contemplative pilferer either to shift the tumblers into their unlocked position by way of a suitable picking tool or to rupture or break the tumbler thereby gaining access to the pull tab of the slide fastener.

Even if the full amount of force ,necessary to rupture orbreak the plate tumblers is not applied, any degree of abnormal force is adequate to bend or otherwise damage the tumblers, thereby ruining the lock. Another limitation that is attendant upon the construction and use of the keeper lock of the aforementioned patent resides in the permanent close proximity of the keeper flange and the anvil portion when these two parts are in their tab-protecting relationship. With an overfilled and consequently bulging money bag, adequate clearance for movement of the rotatable keeper flange may not be present, either for lock-opening or lock-closing purposes. Yet another limitation resides in the fact that the use of a proper key is necessary for both bag-opening and bag-closing purposes.

The present invention overcomes these above-noted limitations that are attendant upon the construction and use of the keeper lock of US. Pat. No. 3,070,986, and toward this end it contemplates the provision of a .keeper lock of the same general type but in which the keeper flange, instead of being mounted on and movable bodily with the lock cylinder, is mounted on and movable bodily with an intermediate coaxial or concentric handle, the latter being interposed between the lock barrel and the lock cylinder and also being telescopically shiftable axially with respect to the barrel-so that the keeper flange may be initially separated from its position of close proximity to the anvil portion, and thereafter, rotated to its out-of-theway position in order to expose the pull tab of the slide fastener. A lock bolt in associated relation with the lock cylinder normally holds the handle in its fully telescoped position with respect to the lock barrel, but when withdrawn from its locking position by means of the proper key for the lock, permits the handle to move axially to separate the keeper flange from the anvil portion, after which the keeper flange may be turned to its out-of-the-way position. Additionally, a series of interengaging shoulders on the handle and the lock barrel are effective when the handle is fully telescoped into the barrel to assimilate any torque which may be applied to the handle at that tiine, thus protecting the plate tumblers from rupture or damage. The lock bolt and its associated lock barrel are so designed that the bolt is ineffective to lock the handle against rotation with respect to the barrel in any position other than the fully locked position of the handle. Still further, novel means are provided for preventing withdrawal of the key from the lock cylinder in all relative positions between the lock cylinder and the handle except the locked position of the locked cylinder.

The provision of a keeper lock of the aforementioned character and possessing the stated advantages constitutes another principal object-of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will readily suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description. v

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter described and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keeper lock embodying the present invention, the lock being shown in its unlocked condition with the handle swung to one side;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the keeper lock in its locked condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a money bag, showing the keeper lock operatively applied thereto and in its locked condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the particular structure which is shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view. similar to FIG. 4 but showing the keeper in its unlocked condition with the handle swung to one side;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken "on th'eline 7-7 of FIG. 6 but with the lock cylinder turned to an intermediate position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective viewof the lock barrel of the present keeper lock;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the structure which is 7 the line 14-14 of FIG. 11.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, the improved keeper lock 10 of the present invention is illustrated for exemplary purposes as being applied to a flexible money bag 11 of the type which is generally used by a messenger when transporting the days receipts of a business to a bank. The bag 1l,is in the form of an envelopelike container consisting of a single generally rectangular sheet which is formed of canvas or other strong cloth material and is folded upon itself and stitched in the usual manner of construction of such a bag in order to provide a two-sided container having a folded side edge 12, a fully stitched bottom edge 14 and a partially stitched side edge 16. The upper edge 18 and a portion of the side edge 16 of the money bag 11 remain unstitched in order to provide an entrance opening which is adapted to be closed by a conventional slide fastener assembly 20. The adjacent edges 16 and 18 merge with each other on a rounded bias as indicated at 22, the slide fastener arching around such rounded edge, thus affording a wide entrance opening when the two sides of the container are spread apart after the slide fastener has been manipulated into its open or released position.

The slide fastener 20 is of the so-called zipper type and includes a' pair of cloth attachment strips 24 and 26 (see FIGS.

4 and 5), each strip carrying the usual longitudinal series of spaced locking fingers 28. The locking fingers on the two strips 24 and 26 are designed for'interlocking engagement with each other under the control of a slidable lacing element 30 which has an upstanding bail 32 to which there is attached a pull tab 34.

The construction of the slide fastener assembly 20 is such that as the lacing element 30 is slid in one direction along the upper edge of the money bag 11 as shown in FIG. 3, the locking fingers 28 on the attachment strips 24 and 26 are progressively brought together and caused to become interlaced so as to close the entrance opening of the bag. As the lacing element 30 is slid in the opposite direction, the locking fingers on the two strips are progressively unlaced and separated as is well known in the art, thus affording access to the interior of the bag.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, inclusive, the slide fastener assembly 20 tenninates a slight distance inwardly of the folded side edge 12, thus leaving a void at the upper left-hand corner of the bag 11 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the void serving to receive therein the keeper lock of the present invention.

Briefly, the keeper lock 10 involves in its general organization three principal parts, namely, a lock barrel 40 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 8), a rotatable handle 42, and a key-operated cylinder 44 by means of which relative turning movement between the barrel 40 and the handle 42 may be prevented. The barrel 40 is shown in detail in FIG. 8 and is in the form of a generally tubular die casting. It has a cylindrical shank portion 50 which fits within the aforementioned void at the upper left-hand comer of the money bag 11 as shown in FIG. 3 and is anchored therein by means of a rivet 52 which passes through the fold of the bag and through a downward extension 54 on the shank portion 50. An outwardly extending rim flange 53 on the upper end of the barrel 40 overlies the folded edge region of the bag 11. The barrel 40 is further provided with a radially extending anvil portion 56 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8) which fits between the two cloth sides of the bag 11 and is adapted to underlie the pull tab 34 of the slide fastener assembly 20 when the latter is in its fully closed condition. A second rivet 58 passes through both sides of the bag 11 and also through a transverse bore 60 in the anvil portion 56, such rivet, in combination with the rivet 52, serving securely to anchor the keeper lock 10 within the aforesaid void. The handle 42 is in the fonn of a relatively deep cup-shaped casting (see FIG. 11) which is telescopically received within the barrel 40 and is formed with a radially extending keeper flange 62 which overhangs the upper rim of the barrel and is adapted to overlie the radially extending anvil portion 56 of the barrel 40 and to confine the pull tab 34 therebetween when the slide fastener is in its fully closed position. The handle 42 is provided at its upper end with a rim flange 64 (see FIGS. l and 2) which directly overlies the rim flange 53 on the upper end of the barrel 40, the keeper flange 62 projecting radially from said rim flange 64.

The handle 42 is telescopically received within the lock barrel 40 and is capable of both rotational and axial sliding movement with respect thereto. Said handle is of the so-called pop-up" type and is capable of assuming two extreme positions with respect to the barrel 40, as well as an intermediate position. In a first and locked position, the handle 42 is fully received within the shank portion 50 of the barrel 40 with the two rim flanges 64 and 53 assuming positions of substantial contiguity and with the keeper flange 62 closely overlying the anvil portion 56 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. In a second and unlocked intermediate position, the handle assumes a popped-out" position wherein it is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and is free to be rotated so as to withdraw the keeper flange 62 from its tab-overlying position with respect to the slide fastener. In a third unlocked position which is illustrated in FIG. I, the handle 42 is rotated through an angle of 90 so that the pull tab 34 is completely uncovered and may be manipulated for bag-opening purposes. In order to establish these various positions and to prevent damage to the tumbler mechanism of the lock cylinder 44 if an attempt is made manually to swing the keeper flange 62 sidewise, a series of four interlocking spline lugs 66 on the rim flange 64 of the handle 42 are receivable in respective spline recesses 68 in the rim flange 53 of the lock barrel 40 when the parts are in their locked position as shown in FIG. 2. A helical compression spring 69 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) is effectively interposed between the barrel 40 and the handle 42 as will be described subsequently and serves yieldingly to urge the handle toward its intermediate unlocked position. The aforesaid spline lugs and recesses constitute, in effect, cooperating spline members between the handle and the barrel.

Considering the present keeper lock in greater detail and referring specifically to FIGS. 10 and 11, the shank portion 50 of the lock barrel 40 is provided with an axial bore 70 for telescopic sliding and rotational reception of the handle 42 as previously described. A counterbore 72 adjacent to the upper rim of the barrel establishes an annular shoulder 74 against which the lower end of the helical compression spring 69 seats. The bore 70 is provided with a widearea recess 76 (see FIGS. 10 and 13) of shallow radial depth, such recess being provided with a relatively deep undercut bolt-receiving pocket 78 adjacent to the lower rim of the barrel 40. This pocket is designed for reception therein of the distal end of a diametrically slidable locking bolt 80 which is associated with the rotatable handle 42 and projects outwardly through a slot 82, the latter being formed in the sidewall of the handle. The bolt is yieldingly urged toward its projected position by means of a helical compression spring 84 and is adapted to be retracted to a position wherein it lies wholly within the cylindrical confines of the handle by means of an eccentric pin 86 which is fixedly connected to the lower end face of the handle 42 and projects into a transverse notch 88 in the upper face of the bolt 80. The disposition of the bolt-receiving pocket 78 is such that when the distal end of the bolt 80 is received therein, the keeper flange 62 of the handle 42 directly overlies the anvil portion 56 of the lock barrel 40 and the keeper lock 10 is in its fully locked condition as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. Said bolt-receiving pocket 78 defines a downwardly facing shoulder 90 (see FIG. 10) which cooperates with the upper face of the bolt 80 in maintaining the bolt, and consequently, the entire handle 42, in its locked and nestedposition wherein the lugs 66 and recesses 68 are in their interlocked relationship. It is to be noted at this point that when the locking bolt 80 is projected into the bolt-receiving pocket 78, the sides of the pocket closely confine the end of the bolt against circumferential shifting movement so that the two pull tab protecting parts, namely, the anvil portion 56 and the keeper flange 62, are maintained in substantially exact vertical register. However, after the locking bolt 80 has been retracted under the influence of the lock cylinder 44, as will be described presently, the handle 42 will move to its raised position and, thereafter, the distal end of the bolt will ride upon the wall of the widearea recess 76 which has an arcuate extent of approximately 90 as shown in FIG. 13 so that the handle may then be rotated manually from the unlocked intermediate position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 to the fully unlocked position shown in FIG. 1.

The key-operated cylinder assembly 44, except insofar as it cooperates with the handle 42, is conventional in its design and construction and is in the form of a cylindrical body having the usual longitudinal keyway 92 and transverse tumbler slots 94 therein (see FIGS. 10 and 11). The upper end of the cylinder 44 is provided with an annular radial flange 96 which seats within an annular socket 97 adjacent to the upper rim of the handle 42, while the cylinder body is rotatable in a bore 98 in the handle. The cylinder 44 is normally held captured in the handle 42 by means of an arcuate latch plate 100 (see FIGS. I0, 11 and 12) which slides radially in an arcuate notch 102 in the cylinder 44 and is yieldingly projected by means of a helical compression spring I03 into an annular internal groove I04 in the wall of the handle 42. A small radial bore 106 in the wall of the handle is provided for the purpose of retracting the latch plate 100 for lock dismantlement purposes when a thrust rod or the like is projected through such bore.

At diametrically disposed regions thereacross, the bore 98 is formed with the usual longitudinally extending tumbler grooves 110 which cooperate with a longitudinal series of diametrically shiftable plate tumblers 112. The latter ride in the aforementioned tumbler slots 94 and are designed for cooperation in the usual manner of plate tumbler operation with a key 1 14. The tumbler arrangement and the key are conventional and the latter is provided with the usual bitted shank portion 116 and key head 118. A small depression 120 (see FIGS. and 11) in the shank portion 116 of the key 114 cooperates with a spring-biased detent plunger 122 in maintaining the key 114 against removal from the cylinder except at such time as the handle 42 is in its fully locked position. The plunger 122 is radially slidable in a bore 124 in the cylinder 44 and is urged radially outwardly by means of a helical compression spring 125. Normally, the distal end of the plunger 122 rides on the cylindrical surface of the bore 98 so that in all relative positions of the cylinder and the handle except the locked position, the proximate end of the plunger is projected into the keyway 92, and thus, makes interlocking engagement with the depression 120 in the shank portion of the key. However, when the cylinder 44 is in its locked position as shown in FIG. 10, the distal end of the plunger 122 is in radial register with a clearanceslot 126 in the wall of the handle 42 so that the spring 125 causes the plunger 122 to become withdrawn from the depression 120, thus releasing the key for removal from the lock cylinder.

As best illustrated in H68. 6 and 10, the keeper flange 62 on the barrel 40 and the anvil portion 56 of the handle 42 con stitute counterparts which cooperate with each other to conceal the lacing element 30 of the slide fastener assembly and also to render said lacing element inaccessible when the keeper lock 10 is in its fully locked condition as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, the outer or distal end of the anvil portion 56 of the barrel is formed with a generally U shaped upstanding rim flange 130 which blocks opening movement of the lacing element 30 of the slide fastener assembly 20, while the overlying keeper flange 62 is formed with a downtumed rib 132 at its distal end, such rib normally bearing downwardly against the pull tab 34 as shown in FIG. 6, thus preventing upward lifting of such pull tab 34. With the pull tab 34 thus held in its horizontal position, the usual locking finger which is ordinarily associated with the lacing element 30 is held firmly against the adjacent locking fingers 28 of the slide fastener so that the slide fastener assembly 20 as a whole cannot be moved from its locked or closed position.

When the keeper flange 62 is swung to its out-of-the-way position in which it is shown in FIG. 1, the pull tab 34 will be accessible so that it may be raised and thereafter slid longitudinally along the upper edge 18 of the bag 11, thus causing unlacing of the locking fingers 28 and consequent separation of the cloth attachment strips 24 and 26 for bag-opening puroses. p In the operation of the herein described keeper lock 10, when it is desired to close the money bag 11 and prevent unauthorized access to the interior thereof, the lacing element 30 will be slid to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 to 6, inclusive, as far as it is capable of moving so that all of the locking fingers 28 will become interlaced and so that said lacing element will assume a position in close proximity to the forward end of the barrel 40 and overlying the anvil portion 56 thereof. It will be assumed, of course, that at this time the keeper lock 10 has been unlocked and that the keeper flange 62 has been swung to its out-of-the-way position as shown in FIG. 1. It will be understood also that at this time the key 114 will be in position within the keyway 92 inasmuch as the small detent plunger 122 (see FIG. 11) is in interlocking relationship with the depression 120 of the key shank 116 so that the key is captured by the cylinder 44. As soon as the slide fastener assembly 20 has thus been brought to its fully laced condition, the handle 42 is rotated to bring the keeper flange 62 and the anvil'portion 56 into vertical radial register, after which the handle 42 is pushed downwardly so as to cause interlocking of the various lugs 66 and recesses 68. Prior to such downward movement of the handle 42, the distal end of the bolt rides on the wide-area recess 76 (see FIGS. 6 and 10), and when the cylindrical body portion of the handle becomes fully received in the bore 70 in the barrel 40, the distal end of the bolt 80 snaps beneath the shoulder so as to confine the distal end of the bolt within the narrow bolt-receiving pocket 78, thereby preventing relative rotation between the handle 42 and the barrel 40.

It is to be noted at this point that any attempt to effect relative rotation between the handle 42 and the barrel 40 is resisted in shearing not only by the locking bolt 80 but also by the four lugs 66 which, at this time, are disposed in their respective recesses 68. Thus, any torque which otherwise, in the absence of the lugs 66, would be applied directly in shear to the various plate tumblers 112 is alleviated. It also is to be noted that with the key 114 removed from the lock cylinder 44, picking of the lock is rendered extremely difficult inasmuch as the small detent plunger 122, although it does not project into the keyway 92, places an additional torque requirement on the cylinder 44 in order to cam the distal end of the plunger out of the clearance slot 126. The primary function of the plunger 122 is,however, to prevent key removal from the lock cylinder 44 at any time except when the keeper lock 10 is in its fully locked condition and the plunger 122 is received within the clearance slot 126 as shown in FIG. 7.

When the present keeper lock 10 is used with a money bag such as the bag 11 of FIG. 3, it is the intent that a bank messenger be at no time in possession of the key 114, such key being retained solely in the. possession of the bank. The empty bag is delivered to the messenger in its open condition with the keeper lock assuming the condition in which it is shown in FIG. 1 but with the key removed. The messenger, upon making his pickup, will receive the bag and its contents from the depositor in a closed and locked condition, locking of the closed and filled bag being accomplished by the bank depositor or customer by the simple expedient of pushing the handle 42 toward the barrel 40 at such time as the keeper flange 62 and the anvil portion 56 are in register as previously described. As soon as this has been done, the messenger will transport the filled and locked bag to the bank where it is opened by utilizing the proper key 114. Because of the fact that the detent plunger 122 (see FIG. 10) rides inwardly onto the wall of the bore 98 in all positions of the lock cylinder 44 except the locked position, this plunger cooperates with the depression in the key shank 116 and prevents removal of the key so that it is necessary for initial delivery of the empty bag to the messenger for the bank operator to first rotate the cylinder 44 with respect to the handle 42 until the bolt 80 assumes its retracted position and allows the handle to move upwardly under the influence of the spring 69, and thereafter, to rotate the cylinder in the opposite direction so that the key may be removed.

While the invention has been described herein as being applied to a container in the form of a flexible money bag, the principles of the invention are applicable to use with a wide variety of containers which employ slide fasteners for their closure, examples of such containers being duffel bags, traveling cases, and the like; i

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a container having an elongated access opening, a keeper lock comprising a tubular lock barrel disposed within the opening adjacent one end thereof, a slide fastener for closing said opening and including a lacing element movable along the opening between an open position wherein it is remote from the barrel and a closed position wherein it is in close proximity to the lock barrel and closes the opening, said barrel being formed with a radially projecting anvil portion which underlies the rim of the opening and receives the lacing element thereover when the latter is in its closed position, a tubular handle telescopically and rotatably received within said barrel for limited axial sliding movement therein and having a radially extending keeper flange thereon overlying the upper rim of the barrel, said handle being capable of both angular turning and axial shifting movements so that it may assume a fully telescoped locked position wherein the keeper flange closely overlies the anvil portion for confining the lacing element between it and the anvil portion, an intermediate partially telescoped and unlocked position wherein the keeper flange overlies the anvil portion and is remote therefrom, and a partially telescoped and unlocked position wherein the keeper flange is swung to one side so that it assumes an out-ofthe-way position laterally removed from the anvil portion so that the lacing element is accessible for manipulation, a locking bolt carried by said handle and capable of locking engagement with the barrel when the handle is in its fully locked telescoped position to maintain the handle in such position, a

lock cylinder rotatable in said handle and movable between locked and unlocked positions, and a key and tumbler mechanism for controlling the operation of said cylinder, said cylinder, when in its unlocked position, serving to withdraw I said locking bolt from its locking engagement with the barrel.

2. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein said locking bolt is radially slidable in the handle between a projected position wherein it is in locking engagement with the barrel and a retracted position wherein it is withdrawn from such locking engagement, is spring biased toward its projected position, and the lock cylinder is effective in its unlocked position to maintain the locking bolt in its retracted position. 3. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 2 and wherein the wall of said barrel is provided with a bolt-receiving pocket therein into which the bolt projects when the handle is in its fully locked telescoped position.

4. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 3 and wherein the wall of the barrel is further provided with a wide-area recess in the vicinity of said pocket and presenting a curved surface area against which the bolt bears when the lock cylinder is in its locked position and the handle is in unlocked position.

5. in a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 3 and including, additionally, interengaging means on the handle and barrel for preventing relative rotation therebetween when the handle is in its fully telescoped locked position.

6. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 5 and wherein said interengaging means comprises cooperating spline members on the handle and barrel, said spline members remaining out of circumferential register when the handle is in an unlocked and partially telescoped position and moving into circumferential register when the handle is in its fully telescoped and locked position.

7. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 5 and wherein said interengaging means comprises a rim flange on said barrel, a rim flange on said handle overlying the rim flange on the barrel, a locking lug on said former rim flange, and a cooperating lug-receiving recess in said latter rim flange.

8. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 1 and including, additionally, spring means yieldingly biasing said handle toward its partially telescoped positions.

9. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein said key and tumbler mechanism comprises a keyway in said cylinder, a key having a shank portion for projection into the keyway, a tumbler groove in the wall of said handle, a series of plate tumblers radially slidable in said cylinder and normally projecting into said tumbler groove and adapted when the key is projected into said keyway to be withdrawn from the groove to permit turning of the cylinder within the handle, said key emg formed with a depression in the shank portion thereo the wall of said handle being provided with a clearance slot therein, a key-retaining plunger slidable radially in the cylinder, the outer end of said plunger registering with said clearance slot when the cylinder is in its locked position, and means yieldingly biasing said plunger outwardly of the cylinder to cause said outer end of the plunger to enter the clearance slot when the cylinder is in its locked position, the effective length of said plunger being such that when the outer end of the latter is withdrawn from said clearance slot the inner end thereof projects into said depression in the shank portion of the key to prevent removal of the key from said keyway, and when said outer end projects into the clearance slot the inner end of the plunger is withdrawn from said depression to permit removal of the key from said keyway.

10. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 4 and wherein the eflective circumferential extent of said wide-area recess is on the order of in order thereby to limit the maximum angular displacement of the keeper flange on the handle from its overlying position with respect to said anvil portion to approximately 90. 

1. In a container having an elongated access opening, a keeper lock comprising a tubular lock barrel disposed within the opening adjacent one end thereof, a slide fastener for closing said opening and including a lacing element movable along the opening between an open position wherein it is remote from the barrel and a closed position wherein it is in close proximity to the lock barrel and closes the opening, said barrel being formed with a radially projecting anvil portion which underlies the rim of the opening and receives the lacing element thereover when the latter is in its closed position, a tubular handle telescopically and rotatably received within said barrel for limited axial sliding movement therein and having a radially extending keeper flange thereon overlying the upper rim of the barrel, said handle being capable of both angular turning and axial shifting movements so that it may assume a fully telescoped locked position wherein the keeper flange closely overlies the anvil portion for confining the lacing element between it and the anvil portion, an intermediate partially telescoped and unlocked position wherein the keeper flange overlies the anvil portion and is remote therefrom, and a partially telescoped and unlocked position wherein the keeper flange is swung to one side so That it assumes an out-of-the-way position laterally removed from the anvil portion so that the lacing element is accessible for manipulation, a locking bolt carried by said handle and capable of locking engagement with the barrel when the handle is in its fully locked telescoped position to maintain the handle in such position, a lock cylinder rotatable in said handle and movable between locked and unlocked positions, and a key and tumbler mechanism for controlling the operation of said cylinder, said cylinder, when in its unlocked position, serving to withdraw said locking bolt from its locking engagement with the barrel.
 2. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein said locking bolt is radially slidable in the handle between a projected position wherein it is in locking engagement with the barrel and a retracted position wherein it is withdrawn from such locking engagement, is spring biased toward its projected position, and the lock cylinder is effective in its unlocked position to maintain the locking bolt in its retracted position.
 3. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 2 and wherein the wall of said barrel is provided with a bolt-receiving pocket therein into which the bolt projects when the handle is in its fully locked telescoped position.
 4. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 3 and wherein the wall of the barrel is further provided with a wide-area recess in the vicinity of said pocket and presenting a curved surface area against which the bolt bears when the lock cylinder is in its locked position and the handle is in unlocked position.
 5. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 3 and including, additionally, interengaging means on the handle and barrel for preventing relative rotation therebetween when the handle is in its fully telescoped locked position.
 6. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 5 and wherein said interengaging means comprises cooperating spline members on the handle and barrel, said spline members remaining out of circumferential register when the handle is in an unlocked and partially telescoped position and moving into circumferential register when the handle is in its fully telescoped and locked position.
 7. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 5 and wherein said interengaging means comprises a rim flange on said barrel, a rim flange on said handle overlying the rim flange on the barrel, a locking lug on said former rim flange, and a cooperating lug-receiving recess in said latter rim flange.
 8. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 1 and including, additionally, spring means yieldingly biasing said handle toward its partially telescoped positions.
 9. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein said key and tumbler mechanism comprises a keyway in said cylinder, a key having a shank portion for projection into the keyway, a tumbler groove in the wall of said handle, a series of plate tumblers radially slidable in said cylinder and normally projecting into said tumbler groove and adapted when the key is projected into said keyway to be withdrawn from the groove to permit turning of the cylinder within the handle, said key being formed with a depression in the shank portion thereof, the wall of said handle being provided with a clearance slot therein, a key-retaining plunger slidable radially in the cylinder, the outer end of said plunger registering with said clearance slot when the cylinder is in its locked position, and means yieldingly biasing said plunger outwardly of the cylinder to cause said outer end of the plunger to enter the clearance slot when the cylinder is in its locked position, the effective length of saiD plunger being such that when the outer end of the latter is withdrawn from said clearance slot the inner end thereof projects into said depression in the shank portion of the key to prevent removal of the key from said keyway, and when said outer end projects into the clearance slot the inner end of the plunger is withdrawn from said depression to permit removal of the key from said keyway.
 10. In a container having an elongated access opening, the combination set forth in claim 4 and wherein the effective circumferential extent of said wide-area recess is on the order of 90* in order thereby to limit the maximum angular displacement of the keeper flange on the handle from its overlying position with respect to said anvil portion to approximately 90*. 